UK Super Sevens Series: Hong Kong aiming even higher at London Irish
- Hong Kong coaches rotate men’s and women’s squads for 2nd round of sevens series, giving more players game time after months without a tournament
- Both of the city’s teams are trying to go one better after losing their cup finals last time out
The Hong Kong men’s and women’s sevens squads are looking for silverware this weekend after coming close to it on their long-awaited comeback – and they will do so as top seeds in their pools.
They play in the second round of the UK Super Sevens Series at London Irish on Saturday intent on going a step further than they did in round one a fortnight ago, when both the men and the women reached cup finals.
Series organisers have since reseeded the competitions, with Hong Kong’s teams now seeded first in their pools after looking sharp in the opener at Newbury, which was their first action since November.
Although both the men’s and women’s teams lost their finals to Samurai, they each had a superior overall points difference to their opponents and Hong Kong’s men also had a higher try count.
Women’s coach Iain Monaghan has added youth and experience for Saturday’s round two. Proven players such as Stephanie Chan Chor-ki and Chloe Chan have been brought in, along with Julia Oyana, for her first tournament, and other emerging stars in Georgia and Gabriella Rivers and Rosanna Wright.
Wright joined up with the squad in England, where she has been playing in the Allianz Premier 15s this season for Wasps.
Men’s coach Paul John has also rotated, but without sacrificing experience, drafting in Salom Yiu Kam-shing, Russ Webb, Kane Boucaut, Mike Coverdale and Eric Kwok Pak-nga to join the experienced likes of Alessandro Nardoni and Harry Sayers, who shone at Newbury.
The men face Wooden Spoon, Navy and Stunts in their pool.
Hong Kong women: Melody Li Nim-yan, Chloe Chan, Chong Ka-yan, Stephanie Chan Chor-Ki, Jessica Ho Wai-on, Shanna Forrest, Chloe Baltazar, Hui Man-ling, Rosanna Wright, Sabay Lynam, Pun Wai-yan, Gabriella Rivers, Georgia Rivers, Julia Oyana.
Hong Kong men: Salom Yiu Kam-shing, Russ Webb, Eric Kwok Pak-nga, Chung Mak-kwai, Kane Boucaut, Bryn Phillips, Michael Coverdale, Pierce Mackinlay-West, Alessandro Nardoni, James Christie, Callum McCullough, Harry Laidler, Harry Sayers, Liam Doherty.
